Integrated circuit with well and substrate contacts

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit comprises standard cells arranged in rows and columns. The integrated circuit also comprises tap cells arranged in rows and columns. The tap cells each comprise a substrate having a first dopant type and a thickness from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate. The integrated circuit further comprises a well region in the substrate having a second dopant type different from the first dopant type and a depth from the first surface of the substrate less than the thickness of the substrate. The integrated circuit additionally comprises a first quantity of rows of tap cells and a second quantity of rows of tap cells less than the first quantity. Each row of the first quantity of rows of tap cells comprises at least one well contact, and each row of tap cells of the second quantity of tap cells comprises at least one substrate contact.

BACKGROUND

Some integrated circuits are designed using, and manufactured based on,standard cells that are included in a standard cell library. Standardcells are, for example, circuits that are configured to be used toperform logic functions. For example, a standard cell sometimes includestransistors arranged as a NAND gate, a NOR gate, an inverter, or toserve some other suitable logic function. As integrated circuits becomesmaller in physical size, and the quantity of transistors included inthe device increases, smaller line widths are used in the integratedcircuits, and the transistors therein are located closer together.Latchup is a type of short circuit that sometimes occurs in integratedcircuits. To prevent latchup, some integrated circuits include tapcells. Tap cells comprise well and substrate taps. Tap cells; however,increase the overall size of the integrated circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the followingdetailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It isnoted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry,various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of thevarious features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity ofdiscussion.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an integrated circuit comprising a tap cellthat is adjacent a standard cell, in accordance with one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an integrated circuit that comprises tap cellsarranged in rows and columns and standard cells arranged in rows andcolumns, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an integrated circuit that comprises tap cellsarranged in rows and columns and standard cells arranged in rows andcolumns, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an integrated circuit that comprises tap cellsarranged in rows and columns and standard cells arranged in rows andcolumns, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of forming an integrated circuit, inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a computer or processor-basedsystem upon which or by which at least one embodiment is implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, orexamples, for implementing different features of the provided subjectmatter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are describedbelow to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merelyexamples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formationof a first feature over or on a second feature in the description thatfollows may include embodiments in which the first and second featuresare formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in whichadditional features may be formed between the first and second features,such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Inaddition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/orletters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose ofsimplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationshipbetween the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,”“above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatiallyrelative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of thedevice in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted inthe figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degreesor at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors usedherein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

Some integrated circuits comprise standard cells and tap cells that arearranged in columns and rows. Standard cells are portions of anintegrated circuit that are arranged to perform a designed operation orfunction. Tap cells are included in integrated circuits to preventoccurrence of a short-circuit such as latchup in the integrated circuit.Standard cells and tap cells in an integrated circuit sometimes share acell height measured in a column direction. The tap cells usuallyinclude a well tap such as an n-well tap and a substrate tap in eachwell and substrate row, respectively. A tap cell that includes a welltap and a substrate tap in each well and substrate row usually occupiesone cell height. A tap cell that includes a well tap and a substrate tapin one cell height, however, has a width such that the tap cell iscapable of accommodating both the well tap and the substrate tap.Including a well tap and a substrate tap in each tap cell results in atap cell width that is larger than a tap cell that has only one of awell tap or a substrate tap. A large tap cell consumes area in anintegrated circuit that could otherwise be used by a standard cell, forother circuitry included in the integrated circuit, or eliminated tohelp reduce an overall physical size of the integrated circuit.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an integrated circuit 100 comprising a tap cell101 that is adjacent a standard cell 103, in accordance with one or moreembodiments.

Tap cell 101 comprises a substrate 105. Substrate 105 comprises asemiconductor material such as silicon, or another suitable substratematerial usable for manufacturing an integrated circuit. Substrate 105has a first dopant type. In some embodiments, substrate 105 has a p-typedopant type. In other embodiments, substrate 105 has an n-type dopanttype. Substrate 105 has a thickness T from a first surface 107 of thesubstrate 105 to a second surface 109 of the substrate 105. In someembodiments, first surface 107 is an upper surface and second surface109 is a lower surface.

Tap cell 101 also comprises a well region 111 in the substrate 105. Thewell region 111 has a second dopant type different from the first dopanttype. For example, if the substrate 105 has a p-type dopant type, thenthe well region 111 has an n-type dopant type. Alternatively, if thesubstrate 105 has an n-type dopant type, then the well region 111 has ap-type dopant type. Well region 111 has a depth D1 from the firstsurface 107 of the substrate 105 less than the thickness T of thesubstrate 105. Tap cell 101 further comprises a well contact 113 and asubstrate contact 115. In some embodiments, well contact 113 isconfigured to carry a voltage Vdd and substrate contact 115 isconfigured to carry a voltage Vss. In some embodiments, well contact 113is configured to carry voltage Vss and substrate contact 115 isconfigured to carry voltage Vdd.

Standard cell 103 comprises a substrate 117. Substrate 117 has the firstdopant type. In some embodiments, substrate 117 is a same substratematerial as substrate 105. In some embodiments, substrate 117 is aseparate substrate material that is in contact with substrate 105. Insome embodiments, substrate 117 is in direct physical contact withsubstrate 105. In other embodiments, substrate 117 is electricallycoupled with substrate 105. In some embodiments, substrate 105 andsubstrate 117 are representative of different regions in a samesubstrate usable to form the tap cell 101 and the standard cell 103.

Standard cell 103 also comprises a well region 119. Well region 119 hasthe second dopant type. Well region 119 has a depth D2 less than thethickness T of the substrate 117. In some embodiments, depth D2 is equalto depth D1. In other embodiments, depth D2 is different from depth D1.Well region 119 is electrically isolated from well region 111 by anisolation region 120. Isolation region 120 is formed in one or both oftap cell 101 or standard cell 103. Standard cell 103 further comprises awell contact 121 and a substrate contact 123.

Standard cell 103 comprises circuit features 125 a-125 n (collectivelyreferred to as circuit features 125). Circuit features 125 comprise, forexample, source regions, drain regions, gates, wells, or other suitablefeatures usable to configure the standard cell 103 to be usable for adesigned logic function. Tap cell 101 comprises circuit features 127a-127 n (collectively referred to as circuit features 127). Circuitfeatures 127 are similar to circuit features 125. In some embodiments,circuit features 127 are different from circuit features 125. In someembodiments, tap cell 101 is free from circuit features 127.

Tap cell 101 has a height h1 in a plan view (e.g., FIG. 2). The heighth1, when viewed in a cross-section view such as FIG. 1 appears as awidth of the tap cell 101. Standard cell 103 has a height h2 in a planview (e.g., FIG. 2). The height h2, when viewed in a cross-section viewsuch as FIG. 1 appears as a width of the standard cell 103. In a planview of integrated circuit 101, height h1 of tap cell 101 is about equalto height h2 of standard cell 103.

Though the substrates, well regions and circuit features included in tapcell 101 and standard cell 103 are illustrated as having a “P” or an “N”dopant type for ease of discussion, one of ordinary skill in the artwould recognize that these labels could be readily reversed in order tocorrespond to the embodiments discussed throughout this description.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an integrated circuit 200 that comprises tapcells 201 arranged in rows and columns and standard cells 203 arrangedin rows and columns, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Forsimplicity, only one tap cell 201 and one standard cell 203 are labeled.

Tap cells 201 comprise many of the features discussed with respect totap cells 101 (FIG. 1), with the reference numerals increased by 100.Some of the tap cells 201 are free from including a substrate contact215. Tap cells 201 have cell height h1 and standard cells 203 have cellheight h2. Cell height h1 of the tap cells 201 is about equal to cellheight h2 of standard cells 203. In integrated circuit 200, tap cells201 and standard cells 203 have widths equal to about one cell width w.

Integrated circuit 200 comprises tap cell rows 231 a-231 n (collectivelyreferred to herein as tap cell row 231) and standard cell rows 233 a-233n (collectively referred to herein as standard cell row 233). Thestandard cells 203 included in the standard cell rows 233 are betweenthe tap cells 201 included in the tap cell rows 231. As such, integratedcircuit 200 includes columns 235 a-235 d (collectively referred toherein as column 235) that comprise alternating standard cells 233 andtap cells 201. While FIG. 2 depicts four columns 235 a-235 d as column235, various embodiments include four columns or greater or fewer thanfour columns as column 235.

A first quantity of tap cell rows 231 each comprises at least one wellcontact 213. A second quantity of tap cell rows 231 each comprises atleast one substrate contact 215. In some embodiments, all of the tapcells 201 included in integrated circuit 200 comprise a well contact 213and fewer than all of the tap cells 201 included in integrated circuit200 comprise a substrate contact 215. Accordingly, in some embodiments,the integrated circuit 200 comprises a greater quantity of well contacts213 than substrate contacts 215. So as to avoid obscuring the figures,well contacts 213 are represented by the letter “P” and substratecontacts 215 are represented by the letter “N.”

By using tap cells and standard cells that are generally configured inaccordance with the tap cell 101 and the standard cell 103 discussedwith respect to FIG. 1 (i.e., tap cells and standard cells that areelectrically coupled to one another via the substrate), some of the tapcells included in the circuit need not all comprise both substratecontacts 215 and well contacts 213. Instead, the coupling of thesubstrates of the tap cells and the standard cells helps to minimize anamount of area of the integrated circuit 200 that is consumed by tapcells 201.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an integrated circuit 300 that comprises tapcells 301 arranged in rows and columns and standard cells 303 arrangedin rows and columns, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Forsimplicity, only one tap cell 301 and one standard cell 303 are labeled.

Integrated circuit 300 is similar to integrated circuit 200 (FIG. 2),with the reference numerals increased by 100. In integrated circuit 300,some of the tap cells 301 are free from including a well contact 313 andsome of the tap cells 301 are free from including a substrate contact315. For simplicity, only one well contact 313 and one substrate contact315 are labeled. The well contacts 313 have a height equal to about onecell height h1 of a corresponding tap cell 301 between standard cells303. Similarly, the substrate contacts 315 have a height equal to aboutone cell height h1 of a corresponding tap cell between standard cells303. The standard cells 303 have a cell height h2. The cell height h2 isabout equal to the cell height h1 of the tap cells 101.

The tap cells 301 have a width equal to about one first cell width w1and the standard cells 303 have a width equal to about one second cellwidth w2. Because the tap cells 301 are either free from having a wellcontact 313 or free from having a substrate contact 315, the width w1 ofthe corresponding tap cell 301 is optionally less than the width w2 ofan adjacent standard cell 303. In some embodiments, the width w1 of thecorresponding tap cell 301 is about equal to the width w2 of an adjacentstandard cell 303 similar to the width w discussed with respect to FIG.2. In some embodiments, the width w1 of the corresponding tap cell 301is optionally greater than the width w2 of an adjacent standard cell303. Reducing the width of the tap cell 301 compared to the width of thestandard cells 303 helps to save space in the integrated circuit 300. Insome embodiments, because the tap cells 301 are either free from havinga well contact 313 or free from having a substrate contact 315, thewidth w1 of the corresponding tap cell 301 is capable of being less thana tap cell that includes both a well contact and a substrate contact.The reduction in width of the tap cells 301 compared to the width of tapcells that include both a well contact and a substrate contact helps tosave space in the integrated circuit 300. The space that is saved iscapable of being used for standard cells 303 or other circuitry in theintegrated circuit 300, or otherwise eliminated from the integratedcircuit 300 to reduce an overall size of the integrated circuit 300.

Integrated circuit 300 is manufactured using an integrated circuitdesign system implemented by a processor, such as processor 603 of FIG.6. The design system has an established design rule that specifies amaximum distance between substrate contacts 315 to prevent a shortcircuit such as latchup in the integrated circuit 300. The tap cells 301containing substrate contacts 315 in a same tap cell row 331 of tapcells 301 are separated by a distance x that is greater than the maximumdistance set by the design rule and less than twice the maximum distanceset by the design rule. Similarly, the tap cells 301 containingsubstrate contacts 315 in a same tap cell column 335 of standard cells303 and tap cells 301 are separated by a distance y that is greater thanthe maximum distance set by the design rule and less than twice themaximum distance set by the design rule. In a diagonal direction, thetap cells 301 containing substrate contacts 315 are separated by adistance z that is less than or equal to the maximum distance set by thedesign rule to prevent latchup. Because the tap cells 301 are separatedin the diagonal direction by the distance z, which is in compliance withthe design rule to prevent latchup, the distance between the tap cellsin the same row or column is capable of being maximized while keepingthe integrated circuit 300 being in compliance with the design rule toprevent latchup. Accordingly, integrated circuit 300 is populated with aminimum quantity of substrate contacts 315 while being in compliancewith the design rule. In some embodiments, the design rule sets themaximum spacing between substrate contacts 315 at about 60 nanometers(nm). An integrated circuit that has substrate contacts at distancesthat are at the maximum allowed by the design rule to prevent latchupsaves space in the integrated circuit for standard cells or othercircuitry compared to an integrated circuit that includes a substratecontact in every tap cell row 331.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an integrated circuit 400 that comprises tapcells 401 arranged in rows and columns and standard cells 403 arrangedin rows and columns, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Forsimplicity, only one tap cell 401 and one standard cell 403 are labeled.For simplicity, only one well contact 413 and one substrate contact 415are labeled.

Integrated circuit 400 is similar to integrated circuit 300 (FIG. 3),with the reference numerals increased by 100. In integrated circuit 400,the tap cells 401 have a height h1 and the standard cells 403 have aheight h2. Height h1 of the tap cells 401 is about equal to height h2 ofthe standard cells 403. Some of the well contacts 413 have a heightequal to about one cell height h1 of the tap cell 401 between standardcells 403. Tap cells 401 that include substrate contacts 415 have wellcontacts 413 having a height equal to about half of the cell height h1of the corresponding tap cell 401 and a substrate contact 415 having aheight equal to about half of the cell height h1 of the correspondingtap cell 401. Some of the tap cells 401 have a width equal to about thefirst cell width w1 and some of the tap cells 401 have a width equal toabout the second cell width w2. Width w1 is less than width w2. Thestandard cells 403 have width equal to about the second cell width w2.In other words, the tap cells 401 that include substrate contacts 415have a width that is substantially equal to the width of the standardcells 403. The tap cells 401 that are free from a substrate contact 415have a width that is less than the width of the standard cells 403 andless than the width of the tap cells 401 that include both the wellcontact 413 and the substrate contact 415. In some embodiments, the tapcells 401 that include substrate contact 415 have a width that isgreater than the width of the standard cells 403 but less than the widthof the tap cells 401 that include both the well contact 413 and thesubstrate contact 415.

Substrate contacts 415 are separated from each other by a distance x ora distance y. Distance x and distance y are greater than the maximumdistance set by the design rule and less than twice the maximum distanceset by the design rule. In the diagonal direction, the substratecontacts 415 of the tap cells 401 are separated by distance z that isless than or equal to the maximum distance set by the design rule toprevent latchup.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method 500 of forming an integrated circuit,in accordance with one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, anintegrated circuit is manufactured by performing one or morelithographic processes, growing processes, etching processes, or otherprocesses based on a set of masks. In some embodiments, a set of masksis fabricated based on an integrated circuit design layout that depictsa plurality of features of the integrated circuit in various componentlayers.

In operation 501, rows and columns of tap cells such as tap cells areformed. Each tap cell is formed by forming a well region in a substrateby implanting a dopant in the well region causing the substrate to havea first dopant type and the well region to have a second dopant typedifferent from the first dopant type. In some embodiments, the implanteddopant is a p-type dopant. In some embodiments, the implanted dopant isan n-type dopant. A first quantity of rows of tap cells is formed havingat least one well contact in each row of the first quantity of rows oftap cells. A second quantity of rows of tap cells less than the firstquantity is formed having at least one substrate contact in each row ofthe second quantity of tap cells. In some embodiments, a column of tapcells is formed having spaces available between the tap cells in which acolumn of standard cells is formed. In some embodiments, the substratecontacts of the tap cells included in the second quantity of rows of tapcells are formed in positions in a same row or column that are separatedby a distance greater than a maximum distance set by a design rule andless than twice the maximum distance set by the design rule. In someembodiments, the substrate contacts are separated, in a diagonaldirection, by a distance that is less than or equal to the maximumdistance set by the design rule to prevent latchup.

In operation 503, rows and columns of standard cells are formed. A rowof standard cells is formed between two rows of tap cells. In someembodiments, the standard cells are formed in the spaces between the tapcells, thereby forming a column of standard cells and tap cellscomprising alternating standard cells and tap cells. In someembodiments, the standard cells are each formed by forming another wellregion having the second dopant type in the substrate. The well regionformed in the substrate for the standard cell is formed in a positionelectrically isolated from the well region of the tap cell.

In some embodiments, in operation 505, a set of masks is generated forthe tap cells and standard cells of operations 501 and 503. In someembodiments, in operation 507, an integrated circuit is manufacturedusing the set of masks generated in operation 505.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a computer or processor-basedsystem 600 upon which or by which an embodiment is implemented.

Processor-based system 600 is programmable to generate masks usable formanufacturing an integrated circuit comprising tap cells, as describedherein, and includes, for example, bus 601, processor 603, and memory605 components.

In some embodiments, the processor-based system is implemented as asingle “system on a chip.” Processor-based system 600, or a portionthereof, constitutes a mechanism for designing an integrated circuit. Insome embodiments, the processor-based system 600 includes acommunication mechanism such as bus 601 for transferring informationand/or instructions among the components of the processor-based system600. Processor 603 is connected to the bus 601 to obtain instructionsfor execution and process information stored in, for example, the memory605. In some embodiments, the processor 603 is also accompanied with oneor more specialized components to perform certain processing functionsand tasks such as one or more digital signal processors (DSP), or one ormore application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC). A DSP typically isconfigured to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) in real timeindependently of the processor 603. Similarly, an ASIC is configurableto perform specialized functions not easily performed by a more generalpurpose processor. Other specialized components to aid in performing thefunctions described herein optionally include one or more fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGA), one or more controllers, or one or moreother special-purpose computer chips.

In one or more embodiments, the processor (or multiple processors) 603performs a set of operations on information as specified by a set ofinstructions stored in memory 605 related to protecting an integratedcircuit from excessive voltages, the hot carrier effect, and/or voltageoverstressing. The execution of the instructions causes the processor toperform specified functions.

The processor 603 and accompanying components are connected to thememory 605 via the bus 601. The memory 605 includes one or more ofdynamic memory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.)and static memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executableinstructions that when executed perform the steps described herein togenerate an integrated circuit comprising tap cells. The memory 605 alsostores the data associated with or generated by the execution of thesteps.

In one or more embodiments, the memory 605, such as a random accessmemory (RAM) or any other dynamic storage device, stores informationincluding processor instructions for generating an integrated circuitcomprising tap cells. Dynamic memory allows information stored thereinto be changed. RAM allows a unit of information stored at a locationcalled a memory address to be stored and retrieved independently ofinformation at neighboring addresses. The memory 605 is also used by theprocessor 603 to store temporary values during execution of processorinstructions. In various embodiments, the memory 605 is a read onlymemory (ROM) or any other static storage device coupled to the bus 601for storing static information, including instructions, that is notchanged. Some memory is composed of volatile storage that loses theinformation stored thereon when power is lost. In some embodiments, thememory 605 is a non-volatile (persistent) storage device, such as amagnetic disk, optical disk or flash card, for storing information,including instructions, that persists even when power supplied to thememory 605 is turned off.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing information to processor 603, includinginstructions for execution. Such a medium takes many forms, including,but not limited to computer-readable readable storage medium (e.g.,non-volatile media, volatile media). Non-volatile media includes, forexample, optical or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, for example,dynamic memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape,another magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, another optical medium,punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, another physical mediumwith patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, aPROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, an EEPROM, a flash memory, another memorychip or cartridge, or another medium from which a computer can read. Theterm computer-readable storage medium is used herein to refer to acomputer-readable medium.

An aspect of this description relates to an integrated circuit. Theintegrated circuit comprises standard cells arranged in rows andcolumns. The integrated circuit also comprises tap cells arranged inrows and columns. The tap cells each comprise a substrate having a firstdopant type and a thickness from a first surface of the substrate to asecond surface of the substrate. The tap cells also each comprise a wellregion in the substrate having a second dopant type different from thefirst dopant type and a depth from the first surface of the substrateless than the thickness of the substrate. The integrated circuitadditionally comprises a first quantity of rows of tap cells and asecond quantity of rows of tap cells less than the first quantity. Eachrow of the first quantity of rows of tap cells comprises at least onewell contact, and each row of tap cells of the second quantity of tapcells comprises at least one substrate contact.

Another aspect of this description relates to a method of forming anintegrated circuit. The method comprises forming rows and columns of tapcells. Each tap cell is formed by forming a well region in a substrateby implanting a dopant in the well region. The implantation causes thesubstrate to have a first dopant type and the well region to have asecond dopant type different from the first dopant type. The method alsocomprises forming rows and columns of standard cells. A first quantityof rows of tap cells is formed having at least one well contact in eachrow of the first quantity of rows of tap cells. A second quantity ofrows of tap cells less than the first quantity is formed having at leastone substrate contact in each row of the second quantity of tap cells.

A further aspect of this description relates to an integrated circuit.The integrated circuit comprises standard cells arranged in rows andcolumns. The integrated circuit also comprises tap cells arranged inrows and columns. The tap cells each comprise a substrate having a firstdopant type. The tap cells also each comprise a well region in thesubstrate having a second dopant type different from the first dopanttype. Fewer than a total quantity of tap cells included in theintegrated circuit comprise a substrate contact, and a differentquantity of tap cells comprise a well contact. Substrate contacts in asame column of tap cells are separated by a distance greater than amaximum distance set by a design rule established by an integratedcircuit design system specifying the maximum distance between substratecontacts to prevent latchup.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit, comprising: standard cellsarranged in rows and columns; and tap cells arranged in rows andcolumns, the tap cells each comprising: a substrate having a firstdopant type and a thickness from a first surface of the substrate to asecond surface of the substrate; and a well region in the substrate,wherein the well region has a second dopant type different from thefirst dopant type and a depth from the first surface of the substrateless than the thickness of the substrate, wherein the integrated circuitcomprises a first quantity of rows of tap cells and a second quantity ofrows of tap cells less than the first quantity, each row of the firstquantity of rows of tap cells comprises at least one well contact, eachrow of tap cells of the second quantity of tap cells comprises at leastone substrate contact, and a quantity of well contacts is greater than aquantity of substrate contacts.
 2. The integrated circuit of claim 1,wherein a row of standard cells is between two rows of tap cells.
 3. Theintegrated circuit of claim 1, wherein a column of standard cells andtap cells comprises alternating standard cells and tap cells.
 4. Theintegrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the well region is a first wellregion and the standard cells each comprise: the substrate; and a secondwell region having the second dopant type and a depth less than thethickness of the substrate.
 5. The integrated circuit of claim 4,wherein the first well region is electrically isolated from the secondwell region.
 6. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the substratecontacts of the tap cells included in the second quantity of rows of tapcells are separated by a distance greater than a maximum distance set bya design rule and less than twice the maximum distance set by the designrule, and the design rule is a rule established by an integrated circuitdesign system specifying the maximum distance between substrate contactsto prevent latchup.
 7. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein thetap cells have a cell height and the well region of at least one tapcell has a height equal to about the cell height.
 8. The integratedcircuit of claim 1, wherein the first dopant type is a p-type dopant andthe second dopant type is an n-type dopant.
 9. The integrated circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the first dopant type is an n-type dopant and thesecond dopant type is a p-type dopant.
 10. The integrated circuit ofclaim 1, wherein a width of at least one tap cell is less than a widthof an adjacent standard cell.
 11. A method of forming an integratedcircuit, comprising: forming rows and columns of tap cells, each tapcell being formed by implanting a dopant in a substrate to form a wellregion, wherein a dopant type of the substrate is different from adopant type of the well region; and forming rows and columns of standardcells, wherein a first quantity of rows of tap cells is formed having atleast one well contact in each row of the first quantity of rows of tapcells, a second quantity of rows of tap cells less than the firstquantity is formed having at least one substrate contact in each row ofthe second quantity of rows of tap cells, and a greater quantity of wellcontacts than a quantity of substrate contacts are formed.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein a row of standard cells is formed betweentwo rows of tap cells.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein a column oftap cells is formed having spaces available between the tap cells inwhich a column of standard cells is formed, thereby forming a column ofstandard cells and tap cells comprising alternating standard cells andtap cells.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the well region is afirst well region and the standard cells are each formed by: forming asecond well region in the substrate, the second well region being formedin the substrate in a position electrically isolated from the first wellregion, and the second well region having a same dopant type as thefirst well region.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:forming the substrate contacts of the tap cells included in the secondquantity of rows of tap cells in positions separated by a distancegreater than a maximum distance set by a design rule and less than twicethe maximum distance set by the design rule, wherein the design rule isa rule established by an integrated circuit design system specifying themaximum distance between substrate contacts to prevent latchup.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the tap cells are formed having a cellheight and the well region of at least one tap cell is formed having aheight equal to about the cell height.
 17. The method of claim 11,wherein the implanted dopant is a p-type dopant.
 18. The method of claim11, wherein the implanted dopant is an n-type dopant.
 19. The method ofclaim 11, wherein at least one tap cell having a first width is formedadjacent to a standard cell having a second width, the second widthbeing greater than the first width.
 20. An integrated circuit,comprising: standard cells arranged in rows and columns; and tap cellsarranged in rows and columns, the tap cells each comprising: a substratehaving a first dopant type; and a well region in the substrate having asecond dopant type different from the first dopant type, wherein fewerthan a total quantity of tap cells included in the integrated circuitcomprise a substrate contact, a different quantity of tap cells comprisea well contact, and substrate contacts in a same column of tap cells areseparated by a distance greater than a maximum distance set by a designrule established by an integrated circuit design system specifying themaximum distance between substrate contacts to prevent latchup.